Calling CQ on a Repeater?

Nothing seems more controversial than whether you should call CQ on a repeater or not. Are there any rules about doing it? Answering Ham Radio Basic questions, helping you further your journey in amateur radio!

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Music:

[KSTG-Fred]

"K1STG, is my Baofeng working?" That should get a response.

[joebolling]

I heard CQ on a repeater one night from a new ham who referred to his call sign as his “handle”. After the dust settled, no less than 15 hams lined up to broadcast their “handles” one after another, hoping to set him at ease. It was a monumental occasion. The community joined together in the rescue of a young man who’d boldly and unsuspectingly ventured into a terrifying realm where, if not for so many who stood up for him that night, he might even now be envisioning ham as just a bunch of crotchety old men in dark musty basements barking out the rules of engagement.

[BrokenSignal]

"If you want to get a lot of response call CQ" LOL, so true

[miketaylor]

Your last comment @2:40 about there not being many repeaters back then is true. Today there are plenty of repeaters... In fact... I was helping a local RAC update their repeater settings on the top of War Eagle Mountain.. and they said that they were actually surprised at how LITTLE the repeater is used. They said that local Ham clubs use it for their 'NET checkins'... but most of the time it sits dormant... unused. Crazy. 73

[gibbywankenobi]

In the US we were taught only to say Break on a repeater to break into a QSO in an emergency. Seems like it may have even been a question on the tech test back then.

[ivanmendoza]

according to KN4AQ a ham operator since the 60s and wrote the FM and Repeater section of the ARRL Operations Manual, There is nothing wrong with calling CQ, CQ, CQ on a repeater.

[MichaelRisser]

I'm always astounded at how quiet the repeaters in my area are. Until the internet goes down, then it's like a coffee shop 😂🤣 Just announcing my presence on the repeater will sometimes elicit a response, but most of the time, sadly, I'm just met with silence.

[hendersondb]

My understanding is also that calling "Break" means that you have an urgent need to use the repeater. I would have no hesitation calling CQ - IF nobody else is using the repeater (and I'd only put in one CQ). If I wanted to join in a conversation, then I'd just drop in my call. de VK2KWY

[Siskiyous]

I call with the word Monitoring, or call for a radio check. SOARC is a pretty active group, and the linked repeaters cover over 10, 000 miles of Coastal So Or and NO CA, and up the I-5 corridor, so there is someone monitoring.

[madcarew]

YUUP! Wakes em up..but you end up talking to the self appointed repeater Police!!!

[GraemeKoch]

I never call CQ on a repeater, I find if I use my call sign and then say listening, I usually end up with a response but if others wish to use CQ then that is fine, just my two cents worth.🤷🏼‍♂️

[FelixAn]

In China, hams always use the full CQ message, even on FM repeaters: "CQ, CQ, CQ, this is <callsign x3> calling CQ standing by." It's very verbose, and I much prefer the habit of hams in Canada, who only say a simple "<callsign> listening" or "<callsign> monitoring".

[PushPullPump]

Don’t say break unless it’s an emergency

[stuarthall]

I don't call "CQ" but will say my call sign slowly and that "I'm looking for a contact". I get a response 90% of the time.

[ericvanderneut]

I normally just say VK7EV listening on and mention the repeaters name, in-case people are scanning more than one repeater, and then listen to the silence, if someone wants to call CQ I'm fine with that

[seanfoley]

Besides why do they even have a repeater running if they don't want people to communicate on it

[clintjeffrey]

No problem calling CQ on a Repeater in fact I just did that on VK3RMC on the way home from work and got a reply. I don't believe saying "Break" is right, one should simply announce themselves using there call sign and maybe followed by - "for a quick one"....certainly please don't use any CB jargon!....;)

[allanjones]

THANKYOU for your hard work VK7HH

73

[AlanTheBeast]

I just got licensed recently w/o taking classes. Got the book. Studied. Did the exam. Got the licence.
Armed with a club's VHF and UHF repeater details I went about trying to get repeater traffic.
Not knowing much about it: "CQ CQ VW2CCC" (in French and English pronunciation) and didn't get much. Didn't get anything actually.
Next day, some guy did respond. And then I had to listen to a long winded description of his day. <sigh>
Turns out the best recipe is to call on the VHF and listen on the UHF - two cheap Baofengs do fine. (The club VHF repeater (30 km from my house - up on a tower on a hill) is linked to same club UHF repeater (municipal warehouse) about 15 km in the opposite direction).
Finally someone from the club (French) recognized my voice. Brief chat. But I could only hear him on the UHF while I was transmitting on VHF.
But - frankly there simply is not that much traffic overall - - - so throwing CQ up front doesn't seem so bad.
Nobody has berated me for using "CQ" but I'll drop it now ...😬

[alainlaverdure]

Nothing wrong with Calling CQ on a repeater, it is in the handbook, CQ is just calling anyone.